Buying a new smartphone usually means buying a new case alongside it, unless you’re one of those risk-fueled daredevils who opt to go caseless. And while there’s no shortage of third-party case options piling up at your local Best Buy or in Amazon warehouses, sometimes, going the first-party route just makes sense — especially if you’re able to pick one up with store credit. If you’re salivating over the new Pixel 11 series, I beg of you: please don’t choose Google’s wildly overpriced Pixelsnap Clear Case. It’s simply not worth the cost.
“HiLight” is one of the biggest hardware features on Google’s Pixel 11 Pro devices, but it’s also one that the company hindered by heavily limited what you can do with it. Android being Android, someone already figured out how to hijack “HiLight” and make the Pixel 11 Pro’s RGB light a lot more useful.
Historically, Google has set out to make helpful devices. The Pixel 11 Pro continues that with Gemini Intelligence, while introducing a new narrative about how you can use your phone less with HiLight.
There are a few trends that have shown up on Pixel phones over the years, but one of the most frustrating is that Google keeps launching half-baked features on its devices that take way too long to reach their potential, just to be taken away afterwards. “HiLight” is the worst example of that to date.
This issue of 9to5Google Weekender is a part of our newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and more. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every weekend, and catch our weekday roundups too!
Google is touting better scratch resistance on its new Pixel 11 Pro phones but, apparently, smaller one doesn’t handle drops and falls quite as well, EU testing claims.
The Pixel 11 doesn’t carry much of a different look, and the only major hardware change happening on the exterior could be glossed over without a second thought. Pixel 11’s HiLight hides in the camera LED and acts like a notification light when your phone is turned over. But it isn’t what I expected.
Google’s official Pixelsnap charger with stand is down to $35, making the charging bundle that actually works with every Pixel 11 model – not just one – less expensive than buying just the charging puck by itself.
After ditching physical SIM card support on last year’s Pixel 10 series, here’s a quick reminder that the Pixel 11 series in the US is still eSIM-only.
Google is delivering some seriously durable phones, or so it claims, with the entire Pixel 11 Pro series delivering huge upgrades in regards to scratch and drop protection.
Google just launched the Pixel 11 series with a few shiny new features – literally. All four Pixel 11 devices are available for pre-order, during which some of the best deals come out.
Amid a price hike on the Pixel 11 series, Google has delivered some solid trade-in values across the board on all four phones, including some pretty great values for older generations too.
The Pixel 11, no matter which model you look at, ranges from bright and loud to quiet and stealthy colorways. Google-made cases launching with the Pixel 11 series match the new model’s palettes, and it even includes a clear case this time.
Google’s next generation of Pixel phones run on the company’s newest version of Android, yes, but they also pack an outfit of smart features that Google says make the Pixel 11 Pro a more useful tool than any model before it. The kicker is that it starts at a higher price than we’re used to, because of one big change to storage.
As we reported on last week, the “Pixel Glow” feature coming to the Pixel 11 series is likely going to be marketed as “HiLight,” and a new image both confirms that branding as well as showing what the feature can do.
With Made by Google 2026 taking place next week, the leaks are only ramping up. Today, we have official-looking renders of the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL that show off the matte black version.
Fresh off some leaks showcasing the Pixel 11 Pro Fold in official-looking renders, we’re getting new looks at all three of Google’s non-folding Pixel 11 models in seemingly all of this year’s color options, including a long-awaited all-matte option for the Pixel 11 Pro.
Google’s Pixel 11 series has leaked pretty extensively at this point, but another new leak has just hit the web to show off some new angles to the device – you just have to look past the nonsense surrounding it.
Images of the Pixel 11 lineup have already surfaced, but those uncovered images didn’t come with loads of confidence. New pictures, though, come straight from Google. Well, Google Fi.
Google Pixel 11 Pro
Please don’t buy Google’s wildly overpriced Pixel 11 Clear Case
Buying a new smartphone usually means buying a new case alongside it, unless you’re one of those risk-fueled daredevils who opt to go caseless. And while there’s no shortage of third-party case options piling up at your local Best Buy or in Amazon warehouses, sometimes, going the first-party route just makes sense — especially if you’re able to pick one up with store credit. If you’re salivating over the new Pixel 11 series, I beg of you: please don’t choose Google’s wildly overpriced Pixelsnap Clear Case. It’s simply not worth the cost.
Expand Expanding CloseSomeone already figured out how to fully control Pixel 11 Pro’s ‘HiLight’ and make it useful [Gallery]
“HiLight” is one of the biggest hardware features on Google’s Pixel 11 Pro devices, but it’s also one that the company hindered by heavily limited what you can do with it. Android being Android, someone already figured out how to hijack “HiLight” and make the Pixel 11 Pro’s RGB light a lot more useful.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 Pro Initial Review: Gemini Intelligence is the highlight, not HiLight
Historically, Google has set out to make helpful devices. The Pixel 11 Pro continues that with Gemini Intelligence, while introducing a new narrative about how you can use your phone less with HiLight.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 Pro’s ‘HiLight’ is another half-baked feature burdened by bad first impressions
There are a few trends that have shown up on Pixel phones over the years, but one of the most frustrating is that Google keeps launching half-baked features on its devices that take way too long to reach their potential, just to be taken away afterwards. “HiLight” is the worst example of that to date.
This issue of 9to5Google Weekender is a part of our newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and more. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every weekend, and catch our weekday roundups too!
Expand Expanding Close
Drop test claims Pixel 11 Pro, specifically the smaller one, could break more easily
Google is touting better scratch resistance on its new Pixel 11 Pro phones but, apparently, smaller one doesn’t handle drops and falls quite as well, EU testing claims.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 Pro’s ‘HiLight’ missed its opportunity to be the perfect notification LED
The Pixel 11 doesn’t carry much of a different look, and the only major hardware change happening on the exterior could be glossed over without a second thought. Pixel 11’s HiLight hides in the camera LED and acts like a notification light when your phone is turned over. But it isn’t what I expected.
Expand Expanding CloseOfficial Pixel 11 wireless charger and stand drops to $35, all-time low
Google’s official Pixelsnap charger with stand is down to $35, making the charging bundle that actually works with every Pixel 11 model – not just one – less expensive than buying just the charging puck by itself.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Pixel 11 series is still eSIM-only in the US, just in case you forgot
After ditching physical SIM card support on last year’s Pixel 10 series, here’s a quick reminder that the Pixel 11 series in the US is still eSIM-only.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 Pro displays are ‘more than twice’ as scratch-resistant – it only gets better from there
Google is delivering some seriously durable phones, or so it claims, with the entire Pixel 11 Pro series delivering huge upgrades in regards to scratch and drop protection.
Expand Expanding CloseThis is the best deal you can get on Google Pixel 11, with gift cards, free watches, and more
Google’s new Pixel 11 series seems really promising, but they’re also all $100 more expensive across the board than last generation. Luckily, if you’re already sold from our various hands-ons, there are a ton of surprisingly excellent pre-order deals and trade-in valuations you can take advantage of to bring that price tag down — and frankly, no one has Amazon beat.
Expand Expanding CloseWhere to pre-order Pixel 11 series: $350 gift cards, $1,000 trade-in, more
Google just launched the Pixel 11 series with a few shiny new features – literally. All four Pixel 11 devices are available for pre-order, during which some of the best deals come out.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s Pixel 11 trade-ins top out at $1,000 with great values for older phones
Amid a price hike on the Pixel 11 series, Google has delivered some solid trade-in values across the board on all four phones, including some pretty great values for older generations too.
Expand Expanding CloseEvery Pixel 11 gets Qi2 25W wireless charging on Google’s Pixelsnap charger this year
The Pixel 11 series gets a nice little boost under the back panel to 25W wireless charging – something only the most expensive models got last year.
Expand Expanding CloseHiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro offers just two features at launch, more coming soon
With the launch of the Pixel 11 Pro, Google has fully detailed how HiLight works and the thinking behind the hardware feature.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle-made Pixel 11 cases and Pixelsnap accessories get fresh hues [Gallery]
The Pixel 11, no matter which model you look at, ranges from bright and loud to quiet and stealthy colorways. Google-made cases launching with the Pixel 11 series match the new model’s palettes, and it even includes a clear case this time.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 Pro launches with the best of Google’s Gemini Intelligence starting at $1,099 [Hands-on]
Google’s next generation of Pixel phones run on the company’s newest version of Android, yes, but they also pack an outfit of smart features that Google says make the Pixel 11 Pro a more useful tool than any model before it. The kicker is that it starts at a higher price than we’re used to, because of one big change to storage.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 Pro XL shows up in hands-on leak days ahead of launch [Gallery]
With just a few days left to go before Google’s Pixel 11 launch event, a hands-on leak has shown off the Pixel 11 Pro XL in real life.
Expand Expanding CloseLeak confirms Pixel 11 ‘Glow’ is called ‘HiLight’ and what it can do
As we reported on last week, the “Pixel Glow” feature coming to the Pixel 11 series is likely going to be marketed as “HiLight,” and a new image both confirms that branding as well as showing what the feature can do.
Expand Expanding CloseMatte black Pixel 11 Pro shown off in detailed images [Gallery]
With Made by Google 2026 taking place next week, the leaks are only ramping up. Today, we have official-looking renders of the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL that show off the matte black version.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s Pixel 11 Glow might be called ‘HiLight’
The “Pixel Glow” name first appeared during the Android 17 Beta, but Google might actually launch it as “HiLight” on the Pixel 11 Pro.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 series leaks with seemingly official renders, includes all-matte Pixel 11 Pro [Gallery]
Fresh off some leaks showcasing the Pixel 11 Pro Fold in official-looking renders, we’re getting new looks at all three of Google’s non-folding Pixel 11 models in seemingly all of this year’s color options, including a long-awaited all-matte option for the Pixel 11 Pro.
Expand Expanding CloseNew Pixel 11 Pro ‘next obvious move’ teaser provides better look at Glow [Video]
With Made by Google 2026 now two weeks away, Google has released a new Pixel 11 Pro teaser this morning.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 11 series leaks in more official-looking images with new angles [Gallery]
Google’s Pixel 11 series has leaked pretty extensively at this point, but another new leak has just hit the web to show off some new angles to the device – you just have to look past the nonsense surrounding it.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Pixel 11 Pro showed up on one of Google’s websites
Images of the Pixel 11 lineup have already surfaced, but those uncovered images didn’t come with loads of confidence. New pictures, though, come straight from Google. Well, Google Fi.
Expand Expanding Close